Disabled veterans/wounded warriors are searching for career opportunities.
Knight Federal Solutions maintains the Purple Knight Initiative to connect companies and employers with qualified, impactful and passionate disabled veterans to support their business in hopes of empowering, embracing, supporting, and advocating for disabled veterans.
Overview:
Knight Federal Solutions is currently collaborating with government agencies and their prime contractors, non-profit organizations, corporations and the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce with regard to the Purple Knight Initiative. The goal of the program is to provide paid apprenticeships to wounded warriors who are looking to learn a new career, in fields that are conducive to their disabilities and desires for employment. With the veteran in mind first, Knight Federal Solutions is dedicated to the safety and welfare of the veteran and will do its best to educate, manage, and train all employee’s on veterans in the workforce, including finding reliable resources for the veteran’s needs.
Program Goals:
The goal of Knight Federal Solutions’ Purple Knight Initiative is to provide paid apprenticeships to Wounded Warriors who are looking to learn a new career, in fields that are conducive to their disabilities and desires for employment. With the wounded warrior in mind first, Knight Federal Solutions is dedicated to the safety and welfare of the wounded warrior and will do its utmost to educate, manage, and train all employee’s on veterans in the workforce, including finding reliable resources for the veteran’s needs.
Current Situation:
26,000 Disabled veterans/wounded warriors are searching for career opportunities. A 2014 Pew survey found that 44% of veterans who served since 9/11 were having trouble adjusting to civilian life. That was particularly true for those who suffered serious injury or endured an emotionally traumatic experience during their service. Veterans have many qualities that make them superb candidates for employment: discipline, leadership, and competency in areas from health care to information technology. However, they typically have less civilian work experience than other applicants. And for many companies, that makes a big difference. When the economy is weak, employers are less likely to take “risks” when hiring.
Filling a Need – Wounded Warrior Skills and Core Values
- Leadership – Accept responsibility for resources, tasks and your own behavior; Inspire leadership in others.
- Teamwork – Ability to work in a team-oriented and hierarchical environment.
- Strong work ethic – Through service, training and lifestyle, Disabled veterans have the work ethic desired in an employee; veterans take ownership of their actions.
- Integrity, accountability, loyalty and “service before self” – Adds to team proficiency and builds trust in a work environment.
- Ability to handle stressful situations – Positively adjusts and adapts to stressful situations.